Portland Timbers sign rising star in deal to boost their MLS attack | OneFootball

The Portland Timbers made a strong move into strengthening their squad by announcing the signing of young Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy from Shakhtar Donetsk. Still only 20 years old, Kelsy already holds the promise of being one of the most exciting names in international soccer. His contract is until 2028, but he has an option to extend it until 2029. Besides, the great investment-the transfer fee is close to $6 million-is a signal showing the ambition of the club to be at the top in MLS.

Acquiring Kelsy is way more than just acquiring a young talent; it signals something from Portland Timbers, a team which has recently been keen on those players who are capable of rising under the mold of the U22 Initiative format. For that to finally take place, Portland needed to trade for Kelsy's rights with FC Cincinnati and sent as many as $175,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).

With six goals in 29 appearances last season for Cincinnati, Kelsy has already shown he can directly affect the Timbers' attack. The player came 15th on last year's "22 Under 22" list that showcases the best emerging talents of MLS. Now he joins to further strengthen an already productive offensive unit in the league.

Impressive numbers for his age

Kelsy’s numbers stand out for a player of his age. Before his MLS stint, he had already scored 14 goals and provided 4 assists in 68 professional appearances across Shakhtar Donetsk and Mineros in his native Venezuela.

Head coach Phil Neville spoke highly of his new signing: “He’s young and one of the brightest center forwards in world soccer. We’re really excited to have him with us.”

A strong attack is stronger

The Portland Timbers finished the 2024 MLS season with 65 goals, the fourth-highest total in the league. With one of the finalists for league MVP in Evander, the Timbers' offense already included key contributors like Felipe Mora, Jonathan Rodríguez, and Santiago Moreno, among others. Kelsy brings something different to that roster, including the ability to play centrally and give Portland a more physical and versatile attacking option.

For general manager Ned Grabavoy, Kelsy's impact is more than the numbers: "With ownership's support, this investment allows us to strengthen our attacking group now, and Kevin will bring a different component to our frontline."

This "different component" is what makes Kelsy's signing so intriguing.

A commitment to development

More to the point of interest, however, is Kelsey's development as an athlete, on which both Grabavoy and Neville commented as a very large factor in the club's commitment to his signing and growth.

Kelsey's designation under the U22 Initiative is strategic, too - a way of managing the budget and fitting an athlete with enormous upside, from both a financial and on-pitch perspective.